Cade McNamara, T.J. Hall among starters on Iowa’s Week 1 depth chart

IOWA CITY — Iowa football’s Week 1 depth chart lists Cade McNamara as the starting quarterback after McNamara competed with Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan in fall camp.

McNamara’s status as QB1 is not a surprise after Kirk Ferentz said last week the ex-Michigan quarterback would start “if we were playing tomorrow.” He was fully medically cleared earlier this summer after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year that required surgery.

Kamari Moulton is the first-team running back. The redshirt freshman is ahead of more experienced players such as senior Leshon Williams and junior Kaleb Johnson.

On the defensive side of the ball, T.J. Hall and Jermari Harris are listed as the starting cornerbacks. John Nestor and Deshaun Lee also have been competing for playing time at the position.

On the offensive line, Beau Stephens is the starting left guard alongside Iowa’s four returning starters from last year — Mason Richman, Logan Jones, Connor Colby and Gennings Dunker. Nick DeJong, who has started at least seven games in each of the last three seasons, is listed as the second-team right tackle.

At wide receiver, redshirt freshman Jarriett Buie, Northwestern transfer Jacob Gill and walk-on Kaden Wetjen are listed as the three first-teamers for Week 1 while Kaleb Brown is out with a one-game suspension.

The three second-team wide receivers are Reece Vander Zee, Seth Anderson and Terrell Washington Jr. Vander Zee is a true freshman. Washington arrived at Iowa as a running back last year, but has been working at wide receiver as well during spring practices and fall camp.

Monday’s depth chart precedes the Hawkeyes’ season opener against Illinois State on Saturday. The early-week depth charts sometimes vary from what Hawkeye fans see on game days; Ferentz’s Tuesday news conference may provide further clarification on how things will look against the Redbirds.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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